DRINKING WATER
4 Essential Truths About Carbon Reactivation
Long-standing myths about GAC reactivation are being increasingly challenged, revealing performance, cost, and sustainability benefits many utilities may have overlooked.
DRINKING WATER CASE STUDIES AND WHITE PAPERS
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![GettyImages-1328805329 energy costs lightbulb]( "Energy Efficiency In Surface Water Treatment: Where Utilities Can Save Big")
Energy Efficiency In Surface Water Treatment: Where Utilities Can Save BigWhat if your plant's biggest cost driver was locked in at the design stage? See how early energy optimization reshapes whole-life financial outcomes.
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![GettyImages-1074493878 (1) burst pipe]( "Hot Springs Combats Aging Infrastructure Challenges With Xylem Digital Solutions")
Hot Springs Combats Aging Infrastructure Challenges With Xylem Digital SolutionsThe City of Hot Springs, Arkansas knows the challenges of dealing with aging infrastructure well. The city’s 143-year-old system covers 923 miles of water mains in rocky terrain, making it difficult to detect leaks. That is why the utility’s water department decided to act.
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![GettyImages-989526528 sardinia]( "Addressing Water Scarcity With Intelis wSource Smart Meters")
Addressing Water Scarcity With Intelis wSource Smart MetersRead about an island that worked with Itron to reduce water losses in Sardinia by installing smart meters that accurately measure consumption and detect leaks. The goal is to improve water conservation and billing efficiency.
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![Kasco-CertiSafe_-WhitePaper-How-Active-Mixing-Prevents-Ice-Damage-1]( "Winter Is Coming. Are Your Water Tanks Ready?")
Winter Is Coming. Are Your Water Tanks Ready?When winter is coming, water utilities gear up to battle the cold and its impact on their distribution systems. What happens to water tanks during the winter and how can you protect your tanks?
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Bulk Hypochlorite Disinfection System Replaced With On-Site Hypochlorite Generation System Saving About $160,000 Per Year In Materials
Originally built to treat 10 million gallons per day (MGD), the Quail Creek Water Treatment Plant in Washington County, Utah, now has an operational capacity of 60 MGD and a design capacity of 80 MGD.
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![GettyImages-157376761 water leak]( "The Hidden Cost Of Water Leaks")
The Hidden Cost Of Water LeaksEvery day in the U.S., an estimated 6 billion gallons of water is lost due to leaks in our water distribution systems. That’s enough to meet the needs of 60 million people—and it’s not just your water that’s being lost.
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![The-Use-of-Untethered-Acoustic-Ball-Technology-To-Locate-Leaks-in-Pressurized-W-1]( "The Use Of Untethered Acoustic Ball Technology To Locate Leaks In Pressurized Water Mains")
The Use Of Untethered Acoustic Ball Technology To Locate Leaks In Pressurized Water MainsInvestor-owned & municipal utilities who rely on Untethered Acoustic Ball technology to locate leaks may experience catastrophic damage to their pipes and systems.
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![Completed Installation of the 3-in-1 Hydro-Guard Solution for water quality sampling flushing and remote pressure monitoring_.jpg]( "Durham, NC Improves Water Quality With Remote Pressure Monitoring, Sampling, And Flushing Stations")
Durham, NC Improves Water Quality With Remote Pressure Monitoring, Sampling, And Flushing StationsThe City of Durham is committed to providing safe drinking water to a service population of more than 289,000. The City’s Department of Water Management (DWM) ensures the delivery of water to approximately 99,000 service connections through 1,400 miles of watermains. Lake Michie and Little River Reservoir are the two sources that deliver raw water to the City’s two treatment plants, using a combination of gravity flow and electric and hydro-powered pumping systems. Together, these plants have the combined treatment capacity of 64 million gallons per day (MGD) with an average demand is 28 MGD.
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![Severn Trent Services, Inc.: Water and Wastewater Treatment Solutions]( "Conversion From Gas To Liquid Disinfection Yields Significant Improved Water Quality And Cost Savings")
Conversion From Gas To Liquid Disinfection Yields Significant Improved Water Quality And Cost SavingsIn 2006, the Greenwood, South Carolina Commissioners of Public Works became only the fourth U.S. water utility ever to receive Phase IV “Excellence in Water Treatment” recognition from the Partnership for Safe Water. Phase IV is the highest possible level of performance that can be achieved in the Partnership program and signifies optimized plant performance.
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![iStock-876573208.jpg]( "Giving Thanks For Water Advocates' Big-Picture Thinking")
Giving Thanks For Water Advocates' Big-Picture ThinkingConfronted by everyday operating challenges, many decision-makers at drinking water and wastewater organizations do not always have all the time they would like to develop big-picture strategies and tactics for current and long-term concerns. Fortunately, multiple dedicated water-advocacy organizations do. Here are seven areas where water strategists, decision-makers, and other leaders can benefit from those valuable insights.
DRINKING WATER APPLICATION NOTES
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Application Note: Simultaneous Determination Of Total Bound Nitrogen (TNb) And Total Organic Carbon (TOC) In Aqueous Samples5/31/2011Total bound nitrogen (TNb) consists of dissolved ammonia, nitrates, nitrites, amines, and other organic nitrogen-containing compounds. TNb measurements represent an alternative to Total Kjeldahl Nitrogen (TKN) analysis for rapid screening of industrial wastewater, drinking water,agricultural run-off, and surface waters. By OI Analytical
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(E)-2-Nonenal In Beer4/5/2015
Numerous compounds contribute to changes in beer flavor as it becomes stale. One of these compounds, (E)-2-nonenal, has been investigated as a major source of the papery/cardboard flavor that develops in aged beer.
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Optimizing Brine Flow In A Geothermal Power Plant1/27/2022
Different flow meter technologies were used in this geothermal power plant to monitor and measure brine. However, these traditional technologies failed. That’s where Panametrics PT900 Portable Ultrasonic Flowmeter was able to help.
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Panametrics Technology Helps Track Potable Water Leaks4/22/2022
Concerned about the volume of water leakages throughout their network, a Swedish water authority turned to Panametrics flowmeters to map their municipal water network -- enabling quick leak identification and fixes.
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Take Control Of Your Water Distribution Network With Digitalization And Remote Monitoring5/19/2022
Any process plant constantly generates a high volume of status data. Today, this data can be extracted from the plant, stored, analyzed, and prepared to meet operator needs and lower marginal costs.
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What Is Genclean Advanced Oxidation Disinfection Solution And What Is It Used For?2/18/2021
A non-toxic, advanced oxidation (AOP) formula of minerals chelated with oxygen and stabilized in an aqueous water solution. It is a viable option in industries and applications requiring a solution to challenging situations where high level effective sanitization and oxidation is required. Read more to learn how the Genclean advanced oxidation treatment solutions can be used in different applications.
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Reduce Or Eliminate Water Hammer With Valve Positioners5/19/2022
Water hammer, which can occur in just about any pumping system and even steam systems, can lead to pipe breakage, equipment damage or even total system failure. Addressing water hammer at the source is the savviest and most cost-effective way to handle the issue.
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Determination Of Pesticide Residues In Tea4/10/2015
In 2012, Americans consumed well over 79 billion servings of tea, which is just over 3.60 billion gallons.
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Real-Time Water Quality Data For Agriculture9/23/2020
We arm farmers with mission-critical water data to help enhance crop yield and taste. KETOS delivers valuable insights for fluctuations in deficiency and toxicity.
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Application Note: Troubleshooting A pH Electrode1/26/2011
Many factors affect performance of a pH electrode. When performance degrades, it is always a challenge for the analyst to identify the cause. Common troubleshooting procedures, which include evaluation of slope, electrode drift, time response, and accuracy, take considerable time. By Thermo Fisher Scientific
DRINKING WATER PRODUCTS
AQUAFLOW™ SMART VALVE with integrated AMI endpoint provides two-way communication between the service location and our AquaControl™, our Cloud-based web & mobile applications, supporting either Cellular LTE-M or LoRaWAN remote connectivity.
Positioners are essential to the smooth and reliable operation of your process. They play a vital role in ensuring the best possible performance throughout your plant. A great example is our new electropneumatic positioner, the SIPART PS100. Its ease and speed of initialization make it a winner for valve manufacturers, the chemical industry, the energy sector, and many other fields. Special benefits of the SIPART PS100 include robust construction and ease of operation.
The OPTIFLUX 5100 is an electromagnetic flowmeter (EMF) with a high-tech ceramic measuring tube for demanding process flows. It is particularly suited for applications in the chemical processing industry, the minerals and mining sector as well as in any other sectors of industry where highly aggressive or abrasive liquids occur. The EMF is the ideal solution for harsh process conditions with temperatures up to +180°C / +356°F, aggressive chemicals and solid content (up to 10%).
The new compact 80GHz free space radar sensors Micropilot FMR10B, FMR20B, FMR30B offer highly accurate and reliable measurements independent of installation conditions and external influences. The new devices come along with specialized accessories for the particular conditions of open channels. Both flow and level measurements can be easily operated via Bluetooth thanks to remote access, using any mobile device, such as smartphone or tablet.
The WEDECO LBX Series is a thousand times proven, energy efficient solution for the disinfection of pressurized wastewater, surface water, process water, and other low UV transmittance liquids.
Rapid-response ion exchange systems provide short-term treatment for PFAS and other contaminants immediately, keeping communities safe and operations uninterrupted.
LATEST INSIGHTS ON DRINKING WATER
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![Reservoir spillway dumping overflow-GettyImages-2152233125]( "Applying Two Flood Models To Cross-Check And Improve Each Other — And Maybe Saving A Downstream Village In The Process")
Getting a second opinion is a time-tested piece of wisdom. During a recent project for a municipal water supply utility, we found that this advice also applies to modeling the effects storms have on the municipality’s reservoirs and dams, and the potential flooding impacts downstream of the dams.
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![Research, probing, monitoring atmosphere-GettyImages-987881424]( "How Satellite IoT Can Enhance Remote Water System Monitoring")
There is a noticeable shift in how monitoring data is being treated across the water sector. It is no longer something that sits quietly in the background of operations, collected for compliance, and reviewed periodically. It is being examined more closely, and more often, by a wider set of stakeholders.
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![ozone production]( "Mass Transfer Efficiency: The Most Important Metric In Ozone System Design")
Ozone output doesn’t guarantee performance. Learn how mass transfer efficiency determines how much ozone dissolves, drives treatment results, and impacts energy use and system design.
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![Cahaba River-GettyImages-2152826831]( "What Is The Future Of Source Water Protection?")
Water utility managers and municipal leaders have long struggled amid the convergence of several threats to public water supplies. During a recent Water Online Live event, I sat with a panel of industry experts to examine the transition from reactive crisis management to a proactive, adaptive resilience framework. -
![Bacteria, Medical research, healthcare-GettyImages-2161239007]( "The Hidden Legionella Risk In Closed-Loop Systems")
For a long time, it’s been assumed that closed-loop water systems — those commonly found in building heating systems, air-conditioning units, and cooling systems — are at a low risk for Legionella. However, there are many reasons why closed-loop systems can actually inadvertently promote the risk of Legionella. -
![Avoid pitfall Planning, obstacle avoidance-GettyImages-2167644498]( "Common AMI Implementation Mistakes And How To Avoid Them")
The journey from manual water-meter reads to a fully integrated digital ecosystem is long and complex. To help utilities along, the Smart Water Networks Forum (SWAN) released the global Smart Metering Playbook, which includes both implementation best practices and common pitfalls. Here are five common advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) rollout mistakes from the Playbook, along with examples of how to overcome them.
DRINKING WATER VIDEOS
Get a closer look at how SIWA MDM Analytics Foundation transforms utility data into actionable insight.
Water utilities need reliable data to meet regulatory demands, manage operations, and deliver excellent customer service. Master Meter’s Allegro AMI and Allegro Mobile technologies offer smart, scalable solutions to support these needs. Allegro AMI provides hourly data on consumption, tampering, and leaks, automatically sent to the utility office.
IPR'S CIPP liner system for gravity-flow sewers and culverts is the most proven, cost-effective trenchless pipeline rehabilitation system in the industry. It is also the most widely specified form of trenchless pipeline rehabilitation.
Water infrastructure projects often face extreme installation conditions, from deep-trench burials to exposed bridge crossings. Ensuring long-term reliability requires a material capable of withstanding environmental stressors that can compromise other piping options. Ductile iron pipe offers superior durability, maintaining its structural integrity regardless of temperature fluctuations or UV exposure. Watch the full video to explore these benefits in action.
ABOUT DRINKING WATER
In most developed countries, drinking water is regulated to ensure that it meets drinking water quality standards. In the U.S., the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administers these standards under the Safe Drinking Water Act (SDWA).
Drinking water considerations can be divided into three core areas of concern:
- Source water for a community’s drinking water supply
- Drinking water treatment of source water
- Distribution of treated drinking water to consumers
Drinking Water Sources
Source water access is imperative to human survival. Sources may include groundwater from aquifers, surface water from rivers and streams and seawater through a desalination process. Direct or indirect water reuse is also growing in popularity in communities with limited access to sources of traditional surface or groundwater.
Source water scarcity is a growing concern as populations grow and move to warmer, less aqueous climates; climatic changes take place and industrial and agricultural processes compete with the public’s need for water. The scarcity of water supply and water conservation are major focuses of the American Water Works Association.
Drinking Water Treatment
Drinking Water Treatment involves the removal of pathogens and other contaminants from source water in order to make it safe for humans to consume. Treatment of public drinking water is mandated by the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) in the U.S. Common examples of contaminants that need to be treated and removed from water before it is considered potable are microorganisms, disinfectants, disinfection byproducts, inorganic chemicals, organic chemicals and radionuclides.
There are a variety of technologies and processes that can be used for contaminant removal and the removal of pathogens to decontaminate or treat water in a drinking water treatment plant before the clean water is pumped into the water distribution system for consumption.
The first stage in treating drinking water is often called pretreatment and involves screens to remove large debris and objects from the water supply. Aeration can also be used in the pretreatment phase. By mixing air and water, unwanted gases and minerals are removed and the water improves in color, taste and odor.
The second stage in the drinking water treatment process involves coagulation and flocculation. A coagulating agent is added to the water which causes suspended particles to stick together into clumps of material called floc. In sedimentation basins, the heavier floc separates from the water supply and sinks to form sludge, allowing the less turbid water to continue through the process.
During the filtration stage, smaller particles not removed by flocculation are removed from the treated water by running the water through a series of filters. Filter media can include sand, granulated carbon or manufactured membranes. Filtration using reverse osmosis membranes is a critical component of removing salt particles where desalination is being used to treat brackish water or seawater into drinking water.
Following filtration, the water is disinfected to kill or disable any microbes or viruses that could make the consumer sick. The most traditional disinfection method for treating drinking water uses chlorine or chloramines. However, new drinking water disinfection methods are constantly coming to market. Two disinfection methods that have been gaining traction use ozone and ultra-violet (UV) light to disinfect the water supply.
Drinking Water Distribution
Drinking water distribution involves the management of flow of the treated water to the consumer. By some estimates, up to 30% of treated water fails to reach the consumer. This water, often called non-revenue water, escapes from the distribution system through leaks in pipelines and joints, and in extreme cases through water main breaks.
A public water authority manages drinking water distribution through a network of pipes, pumps and valves and monitors that flow using flow, level and pressure measurement sensors and equipment.
Water meters and metering systems such as automatic meter reading (AMR) and advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) allows a water utility to assess a consumer’s water use and charge them for the correct amount of water they have consumed.